Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
February 17, 2017

Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Barbados Teruhiko Shinada is on a mission to bring his country’s people and Barbadians closer together.

President of Rotary South Trevor Sealy presents Ambassador Shinada with a map of Barbados.

Addressing members of Rotary South at the Accra Beach Hotel on Wednesday, he gave brief insight into some areas of the programme he will pursue during his tenure.

These include a series of cultural events.

“Our chief aim is to get the people of the two countries closer and to know each other better. This will be done to promote our bilateral relations towards the future,” he said.

The Japanese Ambassador reminded his audience that while Japan and Barbados had established diplomatic relations 50 years ago, their association goes as far back as 1941 when war broke out between his country and the United States.

Ambassador Shinada recalled that several prominent Japanese citizens who resided in Washington DC tried to return to Japan but were captured by a British warship and kept in Barbados, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom at that time.

He said while the captives complained that life was harsh as prisoners of war, they spoke highly of the treatment they received from the Barbadian people.After the war ended, those who managed to return to Japan established a group in the late 1940s called the Barbados Association.Ambassador Shinada said while the association no longer exists, as most of the members have died, it is accepted that the Japanese who were here loved Barbados and Barbadians.

I hope this love-in between the Japanese embassy and Barbados Today has nothing to do with the courtesy visit to the newspaper office from the ambassador which will culminate in more coverage and, who knows, a free visit to the land of the rising sun for the editor.
Barbadians ought to be told if they are victims of propaganda.

I hope this love-in between the Japanese embassy and Barbados Today has nothing to do with the courtesy visit to the newspaper office from the ambassador which will culminate in more coverage and, who knows, a free visit to the land of the rising sun for the editor.
Barbadians ought to be told if they are victims of propaganda.

I welcome Japan’s tighter linkages with Barbados. I am mixed Bajan/Japanese and my wife is also native Japanese. The technological advances of Japan can be of great assistance to driving Barbados’ leadership in areas such as solar energy, medicine and manufacturing to name a few. The UWI and hospital could benefit significantly as well. Language is always a challenge but if we can assist in any way, please do let us know.

I welcome Japan’s tighter linkages with Barbados. I am mixed Bajan/Japanese and my wife is also native Japanese. The technological advances of Japan can be of great assistance to driving Barbados’ leadership in areas such as solar energy, medicine and manufacturing to name a few. The UWI and hospital could benefit significantly as well. Language is always a challenge but if we can assist in any way, please do let us know.